They must have murdered the corporal." This news interfered with the mayor's breakfast.

Corentin and Peyrade swallowed their food with the rapidity of hunters halting for a meal, and drove back to the chateau in their wicker carriage, so as to be ready to start at the first call for any point where their presence might be necessary.

When the two men reappeared in the salon into which they had brought such trouble, terror, grief, and anxiety, they found Laurence, in a dressing-gown, Monsieur d'Hauteserre and his wife, the abbe and his sister, sitting round the fire, to all appearance tranquil.
"If they had caught Michu," Laurence told herself, "they would have brought him with them.

I have the mortification of knowing that I was not the mistress of myself, and that I threw some light upon the matter for those wretches; but the harm can be undone--How long are we to be your prisoners ?" she asked sarcastically, with an easy manner.
"How can she know anything about Michu?
No one from the outside has got near the chateau; she is laughing at us," said the two agents to each other by a look.
"We shall not inconvenience you long," replied Corentin.

"In three hours from now we shall offer our regrets for having troubled your solitude." No one replied.